First look at Whole Foods planned for midtown

Construction of a Whole Foods Market in midtown Sacramento isn't expected to begin until 2016, but shoppers got an early look at the project with a rendering released Tuesday by its developer, Pappas Investments.

The rendering depicts a project consistent with the news announced last week: a six-story mixed-use building in midtown anchored by Whole Foods.

The project will include a 40,000-square-foot Whole Foods store on the ground floor as well as two floors of parking and three floors of rental apartments at 2001 L St. If it wins city of Sacramento approval, construction will begin in spring 2016.

Whole Foods has four stores in the Sacramento region. The nearest location to the midtown neighborhood is on Arden Way.

Demand for additional grocery options is increasing in midtown, where multiple grocers are rumored to be looking at potential sites. Whole Foods will join three major competitors already in midtown: Safeway, the Grocery Outlet discount store and Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op.

Close followers of business activity in midtown say the Whole Foods announcement likely will result in a boost for what's already a popular area.